So, what are Bartonella and Mycoplasma really?

That’s a great question.

The most common disease known to be caused by Bartonella (Henslae) is Cat’s Scratch Disease. Mycoplasma Pneumoniae is known to cause Walking Pneumonia, and other strains of Mycoplasma are linked to urinary tract infections.

However, less well known is that ticks can carry both Bartonella and Mycoplasma strains. Because of this, it’s very possible to contract one or both of these bacteria after a tick bite, along with Lyme Disease (Borrelia Burgdorferi), other coinfections, or alone.

You might not believe it, because wouldn’t we hear about these bacteria more often if they could be transmitted as often and easily as Lyme Disease?

Not necessarily. There is much progress that needs to be made in the realm of tick borne infections in the medical community. Coinfections are rarely tested for, under diagnosed, and poorly understood, and the FDA cleared tests that exist for them are poor.

Medical students receive very little education on Lyme Disease in all their years of study, and virtually nothing about other tick-borne infections. If you have Lyme Disease and/or a coinfection, you probably know more about the subject than your doctor does, unless you’re seeing a Lyme Literate practitioner.

To find out more about Bartonella and Mycoplasma as tick borne diseases, we can look at canine studies.

Here, we find Bartonella listed on AKC Canine Health Foundation as a tick borne infection spread by Brown Dog Ticks. And here, we find Mycoplasma listed as a tick borne infection spread by Brown Dog Ticks as well. This is the same tick that transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to humans. Interesting that we have more thorough and up-to-date research available on tick borne diseases for our canine friends than we do for human beings.

If you’re lucky enough to have your Bartonella or Mycoplasma infection detected by your doctor, you can expect to be prescribed a course of antibiotics. Perhaps doxycycline, or rifampin for Bartonella.

But what happens next? If you caught the infection in the very early stages (which is very unlikely, because knowledge of these infections is so poor), you might feel better.

More likely though, you didn’t catch the infection early and you still feel just as sick, because the bacteria have spread in your body and caused systemic infection, inflammatory cytokine cascades, autoantibodies, organ damage, and buildup of endotoxins that can’t be solved with a short course of antibiotics.

Knowledge of late-stage Lyme Disease and Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) is just starting to grow, but there is still no FDA cleared or approved treatment for either condition.

As you can imagine, the outlook is even worse with other tick borne infections. Hardly any medical professional has heard of tick borne Mycoplasma or Bartonella infection, much less residual symptoms after antibiotic therapy. Most likely, your doctor will tell you that your infection isn’t related to your ongoing symptoms. They might refer you to a specialist or two for symptom control, all while the bacteria continue to wreak havoc on your body.

To successfully treat your Bartonella or Mycoplasma infection, you’ll need to look for a Lyme Literate practitioner. You can find Lyme Literate Physicians, Naturopathic Doctors, Functional Medicine Doctors, and Herbalists in my blog post about finding the right practitioner.

Your other option is to self-treat. Several all-in-one treatment plans exist for Lyme Disease and coinfections, such as Cowden, Byron White, Vital Plan, and BioPure.

My favorite self-treatment option for Lyme and coinfections are the herbal protocols by Stephen Harrod Buhner for several reasons.

Buhner’s books are extremely thorough and scientific. I guarantee you won’t be able to make it through the entire bibliography section at the end of the book, no matter how much you love to research.

He has separate protocols for each tick borne bacterial infection. These protocols include botanicals that have evidence demonstrating their ability to reduce cytokine cascades, modulate the immune system, protect and repair damaged organs, bind and flush endotoxins, and reduce the bacterial load.

Moreover, the herbs he includes have a high success rate for helping Lyme and coinfection sufferers reach remission. Approximately 75% of people recover completely, 10-15% are relieved of most or all symptoms, 5-10% are relieved of some symptoms, while only 5% have no response.

*I contracted Bartonella Henslae along with Lyme Disease in 2015 through two tick bites. My infections were systemic and late-stage before I got my test results back and discovered what was wrong. In 2019, I contracted a severe case of Tick Borne Relapsing Fever and did not get diagnosed until several months later, due to a black mold fiasco at our house that we thought was the problem. I treated with Stephen Buhner’s Bartonella, Lyme, and TBRF protocols and now I’m taking a maintenance dose of those same herbs. I have gone from almost completely bedridden to having my Lyme Disease very under control, able to work, go to college, and live a full life. I can’t recommend Stephen Buhner’s herbal treatment plans enough.

On to the protocols.

*Note: The herbal regimens are designed to be followed until all symptoms resolve. When you have remained symptom-free for a fair amount of time, you have likely reached remission. Some people choose to stay on a lower maintenance dose of the protocols once in remission, to help prevent relapse. Testing to monitor progress is not a good approach. You will likely retain antibodies to the bacteria for life, so the only way to differentiate between an active or past infection is whether or not symptoms are present, not by re-testing.

BARTONELLA

Most common symptoms:

Anemia, recurrent fever of unexplained origin, recurrent headache (up to and including migraine levels), fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, sensitivity to light, unexplained cough, bone pain (especially in the foot), neurological problems, paresthesia (“pins and needles” sensation), memory loss, ataxia (impaired coordination due to brain damage), paraparesis (partial paralysis of both legs, and/or progressive weakness and spasms in the legs), and any kind of heart problems.

Where to order labs:

IGeneX
DNA Connexions
Galaxy
Vibrant Wellness
Armin Labs (a great option for people in Europe)

Note: Under each of the below herbs, I will include links to the prepared tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, and powdered versions. Mountain Rose Herbs has the best prices, so whatever Buhner herbs I can find there, I order. For more rare herbs, I order from Herbie’s Herbs. Hawaii Pharm sells a wide range of glycerin extracts.

Prepared tinctures are best for people who have no alcohol sensitivity and have more money to spend on treatment than time to make their own tinctures.

Bulk dried herbs are best for making tinctures or glycerin extracts at home, for people who have limited funds (this is 90% cheaper than purchasing prepared tinctures).

Glycerin extracts are best for people who have alcohol sensitivity but can tolerate trace amounts of alcohol and have more money to spend on treatment than time to make their own extracts.

Powdered herbs are best for people who have severe alcohol sensitivity and cannot tolerate trace amounts in glycerin extracts. The dose for powdered herbs is approximately 2x the dose for tinctures and glycerin extracts, so keep that in mind as you read the below protocol.

THE CORE BUHNER PROTOCOL FOR BARTONELLA INFECTIONS:

1. Japanese knotweed root tincture (cytokine cascade reduction and endothelial cell protection), 1/4-1/2 tsp 3x daily
   Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
   
2. EGCG with Quercetin (green tea itself may be used instead of EGCG; cytokine cascade reduction and endothelial cell protection), 800 mg EGCG plus 1,200 mg quercetin daily
   
   
3. L-arginine (endothelial cell protection), 500-1,000 mg 3x daily
   
   
4. Cordyceps mycelium tincture (cytokine cascade reduction), 1/4 tsp 3x daily
   Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
   
5. Sida acuta leaf tincture (red blood cell protection), 30-60 drops 3-4x daily
   Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
   
6. Red root tincture (lymph system and spleen protection) 1/4-1/2 tsp 3x daily
   Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
   
7. Milk thistle seed (liver protection), standardized extract, capsules, 1,200 mg daily
   
   
8. Hawthorn tincture (heart protection), 1/4-1/2 tsp 3x daily
   Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
   
9. Rhodiola/Ashwagandha tincture combination, equal parts each (immune modulation), 1/2 tsp 3x daily
   Rhodiola: tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   Ashwagandha: tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
   
10. Isatis/Houttuynia/Alchornea cordifolia tincture combination, equal parts each (antibacterial; optional), 1/2 tsp 3x daily
    Isatis: tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract
    Houttuynia: tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
    Alchornea cordifolia: tincture, bulk dried, powdered
    
    
11. Pomegranate juice (RW Knudsen brand) throughout the day (cytokine cascade reduction)
    
    
12. Vitamin E, 200 IU or 150 mg daily (optional)
    

Extended Recommendations

• With brain/CNS involvement, add Chinese scullcap tincture, 1/4 tsp 3x daily; and Greater Celandine tincture (1/4 tsp 3x daily), Kudzu root tincture (1/4 tsp 3-4x daily), NAC (2,000 mg 2x daily, once in morning and once at night), and/or Motherwort tincture (1/4-1/2 tsp up to 6x daily) as needed; add Ginkgo biloba tincture (1/4 tsp 3x daily) if reduced blood flow to the brain is an issue
• Zeolite (Zeo Health or Holy Land brand) for detoxification and Herxheimer reactions

The core protocol – numbers 1 through 12 – covers most aspects of Bartonella infection, however Buhner does include an expanded protocol with options for treating specific symptoms in his book, Healing Bartonella and Mycoplasma. I have included a small portion of those suggestions above. For more information, purchase the book.

MYCOPLASMA

Most common symptoms:

Very commonly respiratory symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis, and/or urogenital infection especially with low sperm count/infertility. Calcification in the brain with or without lesions, leaky vessel walls with purpuras, coagulation problems, mitochondrial malfunction and resulting chronic fatigue, and/or anemia, especially in people with Lyme or Bartonella that is proving difficult to resolve.

Where to order labs:

Walk-in-Lab (Mycoplasma pneumoniae)
Armin Labs (Mycoplasma pneumoniae)
Let’s Get Checked (Mycoplasma genitalium)

Note: Under each of the below herbs, I will include links to the prepared tincture, bulk dried, powdered, and glycerin extract versions. Mountain Rose Herbs has the best prices, so whatever Buhner herbs I can find there, I order. For more rare herbs, I order from Herbie’s Herbs. Hawaii Pharm sells a wide range of glycerin extracts.

Prepared tinctures are best for people who have no alcohol sensitivity and have more money to spend on treatment than time to make their own tinctures.

Bulk dried herbs are best for making tinctures or glycerin extracts at home, for people who have limited funds (this is 90% cheaper than purchasing prepared tinctures).

Glycerin extracts are best for people who have alcohol sensitivity but can tolerate trace amounts of alcohol and have more money to spend on treatment than time to make their own extracts.

Powdered herbs are best for people who have severe alcohol sensitivity and cannot tolerate trace amounts in glycerin extracts. The dose for powdered herbs is approximately 2x the dose for tinctures and glycerin extracts, so keep that in mind as you read the below protocol.

THE CORE BUHNER PROTOCOL FOR MYCOPLASMA INFECTIONS:

1. Cordyceps mycelium tincture (cytokine cascade reduction), 1/4 tsp 3x daily
   Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
   
2. Chinese scullcap tincture (cytokine cascade reduction), 1/4 tsp 3x daily
   Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
   
3. Isatis tincture (antibacterial) (two-thirds root, one-third leaves, if possible), 1/2 tsp 3x daily – STOP USE AFTER THREE WEEKS
   Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract
   
   
4. Houttuynia tincture (antibacterial), 1/4 tsp 3x daily
   Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
   
5. Sida acuta (red blood cell protection) tincture, 30 drops (one dropperful) 3x daily
   Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
   
6. NAC (cytokine cascade reduction), 2,000 mg 2x daily, once in the morning and once just before bed
   
   
7. Vitamin E (cytokine cascade reduction), 200 IU or 150 mg daily
   
   
8. Olive oil (antibacterial) (infused with olive leaf is best), 1 ounce in the morning, 1 ounce in the evening just before bed
   
   
9. Schisandra/Eleutherococcus/Rhodiola tincture combination (immune modulation, mitchondrial protection and repair), 1/2 tsp 3x daily
   Schisandra: tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   Eleuthero: tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   Rhodiola: tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
   
10. Nutrient replacement as food: Daily intake of eggs, beef liver (desiccated capsules are easier to get down than the real thing), one Brazil nut, sesame seeds (or tahini), avocadoes, chlorella/spirulina/seaweed green drink (1/4 cup of the mixed powders in juice – pomegranate is best – or water), pomegranate juice (RW Knudsen brand) throughout the day, and, if you can afford it, fermented wheat germ extract or shiitake mushroom daily for 6 months; if you don’t want to eat all of this, supplementing with a whole food multivitamin is essential because the Mycoplasma will have depleted the body of so many nutrients.
    

Extended Recommendations

• With urinary tract infection, add an Uva Ursi and “Berberine Plant” tincture combination (2/3 Uva Ursi and 1/3 berberine plant), 1/4 tsp 3x daily for 30 days, plus Bidens pilosa tincture, 1/4 tsp 3x daily for 30 days. Common berberine-containing plants are Goldenseal, Oregon Grape, and Barberry
• With lung infection, add Bidens pilosa tincture, 1/4 tsp 3-6x daily until infection resolves; and tincture combination, equal parts each, of Pleurisy root, Licorice root, Elecampane root, Yerba santa leaf, and Lomatium, 1/4-1/2 tsp 6x daily until infection clears
  

The core protocol covers most aspects of Mycoplasma infection, but Buhner also includes an expanded repertory with suggestions for specific problems caused by Mycoplasma in his book Healing Bartonella and Mycoplasma. I’ve included two of the suggestions above. Please don’t hesitate to buy the book to learn more.

Reference: Healing Lyme Disease Coinfections: Complementary and Holistic Treatments for Bartonella and Mycoplasma.

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